He only finished with a credited one goal and three assists across five games, but Henry Meier was the straw that stirred the drink for this team as the offense ran through him and he also made impactful plays on the defensive side of the puck. He’s a speedy skater who used that to his advantage in all three zones, getting back to pressure players and taking away time and space for puck carriers, as well as spearheading rushes up ice with the puck on his stick. He was an unpredictable puck carrier who adjusted to defenses well on the fly, using his agility to attack inside or outside depending on what was being given to him. He found opportunities no matter how he approached the attack, and his ability to start rushes from the defensive zone and gain the attacking blue line allowed his team to consistently set up in the zone and find their groove. He found the open man well, understanding he drew plenty of eyes towards him and he picked out the passing lanes available in behind with great accuracy. He showed imagination on the puck and was able to make plays happen out of nothing, he was never out of options and his stick handling ability enabled him to get out of dicey situations and generate more opportunities. He read the play well in the neutral zone where he was able to step up in passing lanes and cut out passes, quickly quashing any potential threats and swiftly getting his team back on the attack. He was everywhere for this Shattuck team and was one of the most influential players I watched during the event.

The puck carrying ability of Henry Meier became apparent rather quickly, not only does he attack with speed but there is a certain aggression and purpose to him when he is driving at the defense. He gave you the feeling that every time he would wind up and take off down the ice that he was going to make a big play happen. He created opportunities well through his driving at the defense by unlocking space in behind for himself and having numbers in the attacking zone. His shooting was impressive, setting up for some heavy one-time blasts after finding soft spots in the defense to occupy. He worked hard at both ends of the ice, showing off his defensive stick by deflecting passes intended to cut through his side and ensuring the puck got out of the zone swiftly.

The strong work ethic and relentless motor were staples of Meier’s game throughout the combine. It seemed as if he was always in motion, trying to win back pucks and drive plays up the ice in transition as both a carrier and a passer with flashes of serious speed and skill that generated a handful of high-quality looks off the rush. His aggressiveness made him an effective player during cycle plays along the boards where he showed off a good deal of physicality in his battles along with the assertiveness to quickly take pucks to the net, showing off a strong finishing touch from in tight along with the ability to connect on passing plays in small area situations.

Another forward who was responsible for a good amount of the Minnesota offense over the course of this event was Henry Meier. He finished tied for third on the team in points with six in six games, and I was impressed with his ability to weaponize his speed and be able to get in behind the defense with such consistency. He did a great job blowing by players on the wing, on or off the puck, and getting himself into great positions off the rush to be able to do damage to the other team. He was very intelligent in his positioning and read the flow of the attack well to be able to provide the width needed or slowing up his rush to creep into the slot as a late shooting option. His work ethic stood out to me and his constant hustling builds a really good foundation for success given the way he plays. He didn’t stand out to me as a physical player, but he knew when to use his speed and momentum to deliver a hit and catch his opponents off guard. He showed some really strong defensive stick work and broke up several plays with a timely poke check to intercept passes, and he quickly gathered possession and sped up ice as he nimbly evaded defenders with a bit of skill.

Meier was not the flashiest player in this game but always seemed to do the right thing. He was great in the offensive zone, he was always creating chances and was not afraid to go to the front of the net. His compete level in this game was excellent; he never took shortcuts or let his team down, constantly moving his feet and staying fully engaged on every shift. Meier would be part of what was a great give and go play with the defenseman that would lead to a goal for Meier.

I thought his bursts through the middle of the ice were up there with some of the more powerful in this contest. There was a moment where he was puck racing two defenders up the middle and he won pretty easily. He is getting a lot of power in each stride. I also enjoyed his give and go style approach from the RW off a rush for a tipped assist which came off a great timed pass. His reaction timing looked quicker than most when he’d sense pressure and find an outlet and his ability to notice when he could get behind the defense who were pinching was quality.